Title: Pharmacokinetics lecture 13 Contents ...
 1Pharmacokinetics lecture 13Contents ...
-  Use of population data 
-  Therapeutic Drug Monitoring 
-  (TDM)
2Population data Average values for V, Clearance 
etc. derived from large groups of patients 
Where appropriate, these are quoted as per Kg 
body weight. Adjustments may be made for 
characteristics such as smoking and certain 
disease states. Individual data Values for V, 
Clearance etc calculated from measured blood 
concentrations following the application of a 
known dose of the drug to the individual patient 
in question. 
 3New patient Determine body weight and any other 
relevant characteristics (Smoker, Cirrhosis, 
Renal failure etc) Calculate a dosage regime on 
basis of population data Apply this regime to 
the patient Take blood samples (Therapeutic Drug 
Monitoring -TDM) and note clinical state of 
patient If necessary, re-calculate dosage on 
basis of individualised data.
? 
 4Theophylline - Population data
Desirable concentration range  10-20 mg/L V  
0.48 L/Kg Cl  0.04 L/hr/Kg S  0.82 (For 
aminophylline) F  1.0 
 5Theophylline
Examples of factors influencing 
clearance Smoking 
1.6 Congestive heart failure 0.4 Cirrhosis 
 0.5 
 6New patient
We want to treat an 80Kg male asthmatic who is 
known to be a heavy smoker and has 
cirrhosis. Aim is to use a constant i.v. 
infusion of aminophylline preceded by a loading 
dose (i.v.). Estimate LD and Rinf. 
 7Loading dose
Estimated Vol Dis  0.48 L/Kg x 80Kg 
  38.4 L Target conc  midway 
point within desirable range 
 15 mg/L LD  C.V  15 mg/L x 38.4 L  702 mg 
 S 0.82 Recommend 
700mg of aminophylline 
 8Rate of infusion
Smoker Cirrhosis
Estimated clearance  0.04 L/hr/Kg x 80Kg x 1.6 
x 0.5  2.56 L/h Css  Rinf / Cl Rinf  Css 
x Cl (Allow for salt factor) Rinf  Css x Cl / S 
  15mg/L x 2.56L/h / 0.82  
46.8 mg/h Recommend 45 mg/h 
 9Therapeutic drug monitoring
After infusion has been in use for a while, a 
blood sample is taken and found to contain 8 mg/L 
theophylline. The patients breathing is still 
difficult. Clearance is probably greater than we 
thought. 
 10Dosage readjustment Approach 1 (Not very 
efficient)
Re-calculate Clearance Rinf  Css x Cl / S 
 Cl  Rinf x S / Css  45mg/h x 0.82 / 
8mg/L  4.61 L/h (Now an individualised 
estimate) Recalculate rate of infusion Rinf  
Css x Cl / S  15mg/L x 4.61L/h / 0.82 
  84.3 mg/h Recommend 85 mg/h 
 11Dosage readjustmentApproach 2 (More efficient)
On the basis of linear kinetics New Rinf  
New Css Old Rinf Old Css New Rinf  Old 
Rinf x New Css 
 Old Css New Rinf  45mg/h x 15mg/L 
 8 mg/L  
84.4 mg/h 
 12Terms with which you should be familiar ...
-  Population data 
-  Individual data 
-  Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM)
13What you should be able to do
-  Estimate likely values of V, Cl etc on the 
 basis of population data.
-  Design a therapeutic regime on the basis of the 
 above estimates.
-  Recommend changes to the above regime when 
 individual data becomes available.